News in Brief

S.3199: Aiming for the Wrong Targets

Humanitarian aid to Tigray: it takes two to tango

Ethiopia has begun repatriating citizens from Saudi Arabia

Peace and Security: the new arena for China-Horn cooperation

Ethiopia participates in the 8th TICAD Ministerial Meeting

Africa and the African Union

The Executive Secretary of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) on Friday (March 25) welcomed the decision of the Government of Ethiopia to declare an indefinite humanitarian ceasefire and the reciprocal announcement by the regional government of Tigray, according to a statement issued by the authority. IGAD Executive Secretary Workneh Gebeyehu welcomed the decision of the Government of Ethiopia to declare an indefinite humanitarian ceasefire that is intended to enhance humanitarian access to those in need in the Tigray region.

A pre-ministerial meeting for validation of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) Blue Economy Strategy was held on Wednesday (March 30) in Addis Ababa.  Head of the IGAD’s Environmental Protection and Blue Economy Program, Eshete Dejene said on the occasion that a key element in the blue economy approach is to recognize the value of oceans, lakes, and other water bodies in the national economic and social development context. According to the head, a strategy is being formulated to develop the sector in a sustainable and collaborative manner.

Ethiopia

Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed on Monday (March 28) held a meeting with President Ismail Omar Guelleh and his delegation to discuss bilateral and regional issues. It is to be recalled that Djibouti’s President Ismail Omar Guelleh had arrived in Addis Ababa for an official visit. Upon his arrival at Bole International Airport, the President was welcomed by Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and higher government officials.

A delegation led by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Demeke Mekonnen attended the 20th Doha Forum in Qatar which was held under the theme: “Transforming for a New Era”. The two-day forum draws high-level government officials and CEOs and is deliberating critical global and regional developments providing clear directional and actionable recommendations.

The Government of Brazil awarded on Tuesday (March 26) the Order of Rio Branco (Ordem de Rio Branco) to Ethiopian Airlines for the spectacular service the Airlines rendered to Brazil during the high-time of the Coronavirus Pandemic. Tewolde GebreMariam, former CEO of Ethiopian Airlines receives the highest order medal. The director of operations for Ethiopian Airlines for Brazil and South America,  Girum Abebe, and two other staff members of the Airlines also received medals. The Order of Rio Branco is bestowed annually to people who provide meritorious service to Brazil.

State Minister of the Foreign Affairs of Ethiopia, Ambassador Redwan Hussien, has participated in the 8th Ministerial meeting of the Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD). The two-day online Ministerial meeting was chaired by  HAYASHI Yoshimasa, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan. (See article)

Ethiopia has begun repatriating Ethiopian citizens from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia on Wednesday (March 30). It is estimated that there are about 750,000 Ethiopians living in Saudi Arabia. Of these, 450,000 are reported to have entered illegally. At least 102,000 Ethiopian detainees are currently being held in various detention centers across the country. (See article)

The U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee has passed the S.3199- Ethiopia Peace and Democracy Promotion Act of 2021-to be voted by the Senate. The bill was introduced in the first session of the 117 Congress by U.S. Senator, Robert Menendez on 04 November 2021. In whatever fancy name the bills were introduced, it would be the ordinary people who pay the ultimate price than enjoying the peace and stabilization promises that the bills entail ensuring in Ethiopia. (See article)

During a visit to Eritrea a month ago, China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi announced the surprising news that Beijing would assign a new peace and security envoy exclusively for the Horn of Africa (HOA). The announcement was framed as “Initiative of Peaceful Development in the Horn of Africa,” according to Wang. What will the proposed Peae Conference and the Special Envoy expect in the process? (See article)

It is to be recalled that the Government of Ethiopia declared a humanitarian truce last week to meet the humanitarian aid demands of Ethiopians in the Tigray region. Governments, international organizations, and humanitarian operators lauded the humanitarian truce further calling on the TPLF to reciprocate. However, new allegations by the TPLF and its sympathizers, including the WHO Director General’s comments, on the government’s obstruction of the humanitarian supply to Tigray are untimely and unhelpful. (See article)

A high-level delegation of Ethiopia led by Honorable Tagesse Chaffo, Speaker of the House of the FDRE, has taken part at the 60th parliamentary Assembly of the Organization of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS) that was officially launched on Thursday (March 31) in Strasbourg, France. The OACPS Assembly had kicked off its meeting by deliberating on the outcomes of the various committee meetings that dwelt on the status of peace and security issues in the region, ways and means to collaborate in managing the adverse impacts of the COVID pandemic, and strengthening the stature of the OACPS to make it fit for purpose to the current global reality.

Ethiopian Investment Commission held an investment forum under the title, “Strengthening Bilateral Investment Partnership with India” on Monday (March 28) in Mumbai in collaboration with the Ethiopian Embassy in India. A delegation led by  Daniel Teressa, Deputy Commissioner of Ethiopian Investment Commission, and Ambassador Tizita Mulugeta, Ambassador of Ethiopia to India.

Embassy of The Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia in Ankara, Turkey held a trade and investment forum in Ankara in collaboration with the Industrialist Businesswomen and Businessmen Confederation (SANKON) on Monday (March 28). Ambassador Adem Mohamed in his opening speech acknowledged Turkish investors as the second-largest investors in Ethiopia, engaging in different sectors, creating job opportunities for thousands, and exploring the vast opportunities.

The European Union and African Union Commission on Friday (March 25) welcome the Declaration of an indefinite Humanitarian Truce by the Government of Ethiopia in an effort to expedite the provision of much-needed humanitarian aid to people in need in the Tigray region. In related news, the governments of France, Turkey, the United States, and the U.K. have welcomed the humanitarian truce.

Djibouti

Ethio-Djibouti Fruits and Vegetables Forum was held in Addis Ababa on March 25-27, 2022, and dozens of Ethiopian Fruits & Vegetable Exporters have agreed to supply more than 20 types of high-quality products to major Djiboutian markets, both high-end and the mass markets. The Business 2 Business Session, organized by the Ethiopian Horticulture Producer Exporters Association, served as an important platform for assessing gaps and developing improved mechanisms to enhance fruit and vegetable exports to Djibouti.

Kenya

Chief of Ethiopian Defense Forces, Field marshal Birhanu Jula on Wednesday (March 30) met with General Robert Kariuki Kibochi, the Chief of the Kenya Defence Forces. They have agreed to strengthen cooperation in bilateral and regional security issues, including hosting capacity-building training sessions and sharing experiences in peacekeeping. The two sides noted the need to exploit opportunities for cooperation and cement longstanding ties between the two countries. They further pledged to empower East Africa Standby Force (ESAF) as member states. General Kiboch also expressed his delight to host Field Marshal Birhanu in Kenya.

The Chief of Ethiopian Defense Forces and Chairman of the Committee comprising Chiefs of the Defense Forces of East African countries, Field Marshal Birhanu Jula said the East Africa Standby Force should made preparation fitting the current security issues in the region. Field Marshal Birhanu said this yesterday while making remarks at the conclusion of the 15-day training given to officers of member states in Kenya. He also appreciated member states for sending trainees to the session as a manifestation of their commitment to strengthen the Standby Force.

Somalia

The UN Security Council on Thursday (March 31) voted unanimously for a new African Union peacekeeping force in Somalia, where Al-Shabaab insurgents have been seeking to overthrow the fragile government for more than a decade. The current African Union Mission in Somalia (Amisom) is composed of 20,000 soldiers, police, and civilians helping local authorities fight against the jihadist insurgents.

Sudan

The President of the Transitional Sovereignty Council, General Abdel Al-Fattah Al-Burhan, and the Chadian President, Mohammed Idriss Deby, on Thursday(March 31) held joint talks covering the bilateral relations and means for developing them further for the interest of the peoples of the two countries. The TSC President said in press statements that he briefed President Deby on the developments of the situation in Sudan.

The President of Egypt, Abdul-Fattah Al-Sisi, received on Wednesday (March 30) at Al-Ittihadiya Palace the President of the Sudanese Transitional Sovereignty Council, Gen. Abdul-Fattah Al-Burhan, where the official reception ceremony was held and the two national anthems were played and the guards of honor was inspected. A sitting of talks was held between the two presidents alone, followed by an expanded sitting that included the delegations of the two countries.

South Sudan

Ethiopia’s Ambassador in South Sudan, Ambassador Nebil Mehdi, had a meeting today with the Vice President of South Sudan in charge of Infrastructure, Taban Deng Gai. The two sides discussed ways to cement ties in the infrastructure sector, mentioning, in particular, the road project that links the Gambella regional state of Ethiopia and the Upper Nile State of South Sudan. This project is designed to link the two countries with the port of Djibouti. They noted the need to scale up cooperation and finalize the project.

Deputy Chief of Ethiopian Defense Forces, General Abebaw Tadesse met with his South Sudanese counterpart, Lt.Gen.Thoi Chany Reath. The Ethiopian delegation and the South Sudanese side agreed to share experience in logistics and capacity-building and cooperate on border security issues.

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S.3199: Aiming for the Wrong Targets

Ever since the northern Ethiopia conflict broke out in late 2020, some U.S. Senators and TPLF sympathizers have been calling for the imposition of sanctions on Ethiopia. In whatever fancy name the bills were introduced, it would be the ordinary people who will pay the ultimate price, rather than enjoying the peace and stabilization promises that the bills entail to ensure in Ethiopia. Sanctions will not resolve Ethiopia’s conflict, except to worsen the economic hardship of ordinary people. The removal of Ethiopia’s preferential benefits from AGOA is a case in point here.

On March 17/2022, US Senator Bob Menendez, Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, called on President Joe Biden to assess whether parties to the conflict in Ethiopia are guilty of war crimes, crimes against humanity, or genocide. Citing evidence and reports of extra-judicial killings, massacres, sexual and gender-based violence, forced displacement, and continued efforts to block humanitarian aid from reaching civilians, Menendez underlined the need for the Department of State to make a decision on what he calls a “systematic campaign of destruction,” further urging the Biden administration to continue to impose a tsunami of sanctions that will pressure the Ethiopian government.

Menendez has been calling attention to the problem in the Tigray region ostensibly downplaying the TPLF rebels’ brutal aggression in the Amhara and Afar regions that engendered the loss of lives and displacement and destruction of infrastructure. In a letter addressed to Biden, (https://www.foreign.senate.gov/download/2022-03-17-22-rm-letter-to-president-biden-re-ethiopia-conflict ), he implores the President for imposing additional sanctions on Ethiopia, listing ‘positive’ outcomes previously imposed sanctions and visa restrictions have had on Ethiopia. The Senator’s assessment is flawed since it bypassed the negative effects of those sanctions on ordinary Ethiopian citizens and completely ignored all the positive initiatives taken by the Ethiopian government to ensure peace in the country. Above all the Senator seems to fall into the trap of the TPLF sympathizers who were playing the genocide card from the first day of the TPLF militants’ unwarranted attack on Ethiopian Defense Forces’ Garrisons in Tigray. They are the ones who ethnically profiled and attacked members of the Ethiopian Defense Forces, including civilians in Mai Kadra at the outbreak of the conflict.  Now, Senator Bob Menendez is at the forefront in proposing S.3.199 to put restraints on the atrocious acts perpetrated by ‘all warring parties’ in Ethiopia.

Last Week, after introducing the bill to the Senate committee on foreign relations, S.3199, Menendez said, “I am proud to be joined by my colleagues in introducing the Ethiopia Peace and Democracy Promotion Act of 2021 to enhance our nation’s efforts to pursue meaningful accountability for the bloodshed and tragedy in Tigray”. To put the records straight here, the tragedy and the bloodshed amount more in the neighboring Amhara and Afar regions than the Tigray region. It is baffling to see the senator’s undivided attention on the Tigray region as if other areas, particularly the Amhara and Afar regions, are immune to the atrocities of the TPLF.

Setting aside the seemingly biased position of Senator Menendez, there are several reasons to reject and criticize the fundamental premises of the Senate-drafted resolution S.3199. It specifically overlooks the Tigray People’s Liberation Front’s (TPLF) initial assault on an Ethiopian National Defense Force (ENDF) base on the late evening of November 3, 2020, which sparked the ongoing conflict. Subjecting the victim to the proposed sanctions on arms transactions not only defies the right of the state for self-defense but it amounts to rewarding the clique for compromising the sovereignty of the nation.  The bill also disregards the TPLF’s refusal to reciprocate the Ethiopian government’s declaration of a unilateral humanitarian ceasefire in June 2021. Not mentioning the causes of death and suffering in the Amhara and Afar regions, the bill seems to overlook the responsibility of the TPLF militants in launching fresh attacks in the adjacent regions further obstructing the flow of humanitarian aid to Tigray.  Neither Ethiopia’s genuine efforts to apply the recommendations of the joint investigation of the United Nations Human Right Council (UNHRC) and the Ethiopian Human Right Council (EHRC) get acknowledgments nor did the TPLF’s rejection of the findings get rebukes. 

Despite the TPLF’s continuous belligerence, the Ethiopia government has taken significant actions in the past four months towards ending the conflict and bringing peace to Ethiopia, such as the declaration of the ceasefire and humanitarian truce, the lifting of the State of Emergency, the release of prominent opposition figures from prison, and the proposed all-inclusive national dialogue that aims to address critical national issues.  These steps have been acknowledged by the international community, including the African Union (AU), the European Union (EU), and United Nations (UN). António Guterres, the United Nations Secretary-General (UNSG), affirmed this in his statement on January 19, 2022, “I am delighted that after over a year of armed conflict which has affected millions of people across Ethiopia and the rest of the region, there is now a demonstrable effort to make peace.” Additionally, after his recent visit to Ethiopia on March 22, 2022, the US special envoy for the Horn of Africa, Ambassador Satterfield, said the United States “appreciated and acknowledged the positive steps taken by the Ethiopian government to pacify and stabilize the country.”

What the government of Ethiopia and its people need now is appreciation and encouragement for choosing to walk on the right track than debilitating blows from uncalled-for sanctions. The government of Ethiopia is keen to work closely with the United States government on issues that advance common interests. The Biden administration would benefit the people of Ethiopia and put restraints on the undesirable actions of the ‘warring parties’ by assisting the Ethiopian government’s efforts to ensure peace and democracy in the country and the Horn of Africa.

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Humanitarian aid to Tigray: it takes two to tango

It is to be recalled that the Government of Ethiopia declared a humanitarian truce last week to meet the humanitarian aid demands of Ethiopians in the Tigray region. Governments, international organizations, and humanitarian operators lauded the humanitarian truce further calling on the TPLF to reciprocate. However, new allegations by the TPLF and its sympathizers, including the WHO Director General’s comments, on the government’s obstruction of the humanitarian supply to Tigray are untimely and unhelpful. 

The Tigray militants should be courageous enough to bear responsibility for the problems humanitarian operators are facing to supply aid to those in need in the region. Commenting on delayed humanitarian supply to the Tigray region after the declaration of the Humanitarian truce,  the Government Communication service said the Ethiopian government has taken immediate actions, expected of its side in this regard, unless there was a lack of capacity or a delay in the operation of the charities. Respecting the pledges made under the humanitarian truce, the government has allowed several international humanitarian organizations to conduct daily humanitarian flights to Mekelle.

Unfortunately, until Wednesday (March 30), 43 WFP trucks loaded with food items were not able to enter the Tigray region due to the closure of the Aba’ala Road by the TPLF militants. Up until today, the militants have continued their aggression against neighboring regions. Aside from blocking the Aba’ala humanitarian corridor, people in the TPLF occupied areas are suffering at the hands of the militants. More than 300, 000 people are displaced just recently. The United States Chargé d’Affaires in Ethiopia, Ambassador Tracey Jacobson, was in Semera, Afar Region yesterday and met with the Afar Regional President,  Awol Arba, members of several Afar region-based youth organizations and clan leaders to hear firsthand about the region’s concerns and needs. One of the major concerns of the regions is the withdrawal of the TPLF militants from occupied areas in Afar, which the federal government, in announcing the Humanitarian truce last week demanded, to ensure the implementation of the truce.

As a statement by the Government Communication Service revealed yesterday, 21 WFP trucks are heading to Tigray loaded with much-needed humanitarian aid, including fuel. The statement reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to employing every means to facilitate humanitarian support to the Tigray region. And yet, representatives of the TPLF militant group, stating lack of aid within hours of the declaration of the humanitarian truce, are claiming that the government has failed respect its words. They even declared that the truce was made to mislead the international community. None of these allegations are true.

The government of Ethiopia has been making repeated calls on the Tigray militants to refrain from citing various reasons and obstruct the humanitarian flow by disseminating misleading information. The Ethiopian government rather called on the militants to carry out responsibilities on their part and facilitate the supply of aid to the people of Tigray. The Government of Ethiopia also urged the international community to put pressure on the TPLF to reciprocate the humanitarian truce setting unsubstantiated allegations aside. 

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Ethiopia has begun repatriating citizens from Saudi Arabia

Ethiopia has begun repatriating Ethiopian citizens from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia on Wednesday (March 30). It is estimated that there are about 750,000 Ethiopians living in Saudi Arabia. Of these, 450,000 are reported to have entered Saudi Arabia without proper documentation. At least 102,000 Ethiopian are currently being held in various detention centers across the country.

Our citizens are being held in overcrowded prisons and detention centers in Riyadh and Jeddah, and in places where basic needs are not met, they are suffering from disease, food and clothing shortages, psychological trauma and physical harm. The Ethiopian government has set up a national executive committee, under the chairmanship of Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Demeke Mekonnen, to repatriate those citizens gradually.

The committee which comprises 16 government agencies has prepared and implemented a plan of action to guide the repatriation process, including the rehabilitation of the returnees. In its preliminary work, the committee undertook important activities such as compiling comprehensive data, implementing procedures, and document preparation.

Some members of the committee have twice visited Saudi Arabia and held talks with Saudi officials. Preparations for hosting the returnees were made with the establishment of makeshift centers and the provision of accommodation, including food, beverages, basic necessities, and transportation.

2011 Ethiopians have arrived in Addis Ababa so far, comprising women and children on the first flights. High-level government officials welcomed the returnees at Bole International Airport. Speaking at the event, State Minister for Foreign Affairs and member of the National Executive Committee, Ambassador Birtukan Ayano, said the plan to repatriate citizens has been successfully implemented noting the encouraging move in making the first returnees women and children.

In her remarks, Ambassador Birtukan Ayano said the repatriation process is a sign that the government is using its full potential to repatriate those in need. She also called on the parties involved in the repatriation process to make the process as flawless as possible. She said three flights a day, three days a week are set aside to repatriate citizens within six months.

Various discussions have been made with senior government officials of Ethiopia and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to protect the rights of Ethiopian citizens who have proper documentation to live and work in Saudi Arabia. There have also been deliberations to ease conditions for illegal migrants gathered in prisons and detention centers in Saudi Arabia alongside talks of repatriation and cooperation to tackle the root causes of illegal migration.

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Peace and Security: the new arena for China-Horn cooperation

During a visit to Eritrea a month ago, China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi announced the surprising news that Beijing would assign a new peace and security envoy exclusively for the Horn of Africa (HOA). The announcement was framed as “Initiative of Peaceful Development in the Horn of Africa,” according to Wang.

A special Chinese envoy stationed in the Horn of Africa is not a novel concept. Ambassador Liu Guijin was designated as special envoy for African issues in 2007 and was promptly dispatched to Sudan to assist in the resolution of the Darfur conflict.

Peace and stability in Horn Africa contribute a lot to the stability of international growth and trade, which China depends on. Aside from advancing mutual needs for economic growth, the decision of the Chinese government to appoint a special envoy to the region reaffirms China’s commitment to play a more strategic role as a security actor on the continent, building on its growing experience in conflict resolution and contributions to multilateral peacekeeping and mediation efforts.

The new envoy would give Beijing an extra layer of coordination and communication with the various actors in the Horn. This is an opportunity for relevant African diplomats to take advantage of and use the special envoy to address, leverage, and negotiate their points of view with China.

The envoy’s first duty is to strengthen and diversify China’s regional influence in the Horn of Africa and East Africa by hosting a peace conference this year. The idea is to assist regional countries in resolving their problems on their own. Despite the fact that it is a Chinese initiative, Bing stated that the regional countries will take the lead and be the primary actors. Beijing is scheduled to present ideas on security, development, and governance at the meeting.

Countries in the Horn of Africa have praised the Chinese initiative. Ambassador Xue Bing noted at the conclusion of his first trip that the Horn of Africa has long been subjected to external intrusions. “Some countries in this region are tired of foreign involvement,” he said at a press conference at the Chinese Embassy in Nairobi, adding, “They claim that China respects us and treats us as equals and that they want to see China take a more active and constructive role in the world. As a result, we must respond to the call from our friends here”.

The Chinese government has been successful in outclassing Africa’s traditional allies such as the U.S. and Europe in the economic arena, and as things appear now china is also eying to put its fingerprints on peace and security issues. The conflict in the northern part of Ethiopia, the Ethiopia-Sudan border case, issues related to elections in Somalia, the implementation of the South Sudan peace deal, and the political crisis in Sudan following Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok’s resignation, among others, may preoccupy the Chinese special envoy. 

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Ethiopia participates in the 8th TICAD Ministerial Meeting

State Minister of the Foreign Affairs of Ethiopia,  Ambassador Redwan Hussien, has participated in the 8th Ministerial meeting of Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD). The two-day online Ministerial meeting is chaired by  HAYASHI Yoshimasa, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan.

In his remarks, Ambassador Redwan appreciated the commitment of Japan to cooperate with African countries under TICAD and with Ethiopia, in particular, under Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and Quality and Productivity Improvement (Kaizen) projects.

He also appreciated the government of Japan for providing COVID-19 vaccines to Ethiopia, further stressing the need to increase economic support given the straining pressure of the pandemic on African economies.

The Ambassador explained encouraging steps taken to transform the economy in Ethiopia under the Home Grown Economic reform and the 10-year economic plan further calling Japan for sustained support.

Besides stressing the need to cementing Africa-Japan ties in trade, investment, technology transfer, and human development, Ambassador Redwan called on Japan to work with Africa in concretizing aspirations for sustainable peace and development under Agenda 2063.

Participants, including Foreign Ministers from African countries, will deliberate priority issues for African development looking ahead to the post-COVID-19 era based on the three pillars; Economy, Society, and Peace and Stability.